Switch or switchboard for controlling electric circuits



Aug. 5 1924.

A. H. MIDGLEY SWITCH OR SWITCHBOARD FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRIC CIRCUITS Filed April 3 1922 L. n y.i L. L r a y P 0 k :1

v ear/$012 Mix 2% Patented Aug. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,503,797 PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT HENRY MID GLEY, O'F UXBRIDGE, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO MIDGLEY CAR LIGHTING- COMPANY, LIMITED,- OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

SWITCH OR SWITGHBOARD FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRIC CIRCUITSv Application filed April 3.

To all whom it concern Be. it known that I, ALBERT HENRY Mine- LEY, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Fairficld, Harefield Road, Uxbridge, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Switches or Switchboards for Controlling Electric Circuits, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to switches or switcliboards for controlling a plurality of electric circuits such,.for example, as the switchboards for controlling the starting, lighting, and ignition circuits on motor vehicles.

The object of the present invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction of such devices and to provide for their reduction to a comparatively small compass in order that they may be easily and rapidly installed in position and will present aneat external appearance when so mounted.

The invention consists in a switchboard for controlling a plurality of electric circuits having a single switch adapted to control more than one of said circuits, independently.

The invention also consists in a switchboard of the above characterhaving means for locking the switch against operation when it is desired that the circuits shall not be under control. v

The invention further consists in a switch board of the above character in which the key for operating the lock will also control an electric circuit additional to those controlled by the switch. 7

The accompanying drawings illustrate one convenient form of switchboard in accordance with the'invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the switch board. 1

Figure 2 is a front elevation partly. in section. r

Figure 3 is a side sectional elevation.

Figures 4 and 5 are views illustrating two; switches shown in Figure 3.

(Figure 6,is'a'view showing the arrange; ment of. contacts in association with such I switches.

In carrying my invention into effect in one convenient manner, as for example, in its application to the ignition, lighting and starting circuits adopted on motor vehicles 192a. Seria1No.'549,331.

I arrange contact carrying plate (7 oi suitable insulation which may be of any desired dimens ons depending upon the character of the switchboard required.

Upon the insulating plate I arrange the necessary contacts for the battery and varioiis lamps comprised in the lighting set as denoted respectively in Figure 6 by the reference letters (Z c fg and also an earth connection it, and in conjunction with such contacts I arrange a contact'bridge i (Figure 5) which is adapted to be rotated so that any or all of such contactsm-aybe made or broken according as any, all, or none of'the lamps require to be lighted. The rotation of the contact bridge i is effected by a switch or handle 70 which is so constructed and arranged that in addition to the. motion of rotation for controlling the lighting circuit it is also capable of an axial or rectilinear movement for operating the starting switch or other means employed for starting the motor either directly .or

through the intervention of a liowden wire I Z or other flexible connection, or by suitable rotation and axial or rectilinearinovement.

" The barrel or cylinder ofthe rotary lock m itself carries or is adapted to actuate a contact bridge 0 (Figure 4) which'may.

take either one of two positions in order 'tocontrqlthe magneto orotherignition Circuit (represented by the contacts 37 'g-Figure 6) so that while the switch is controls the starting and lighting circuits the key nwill control the ignition circuit.

The. construction and arrangement of switchland locking means are preferablysuch that .the switch may be locked in any of its angular positions controlling the lighting circuit while at the same time the ignition and starter circuits may be locked in the off position.

In the specific construction illustrated the controlli'n switch 70 embodies a central mem' her 1' to w iich the switch knobis secured b means of a screw .9 or otherwise and whic,

may be moved axially for the purpose of operating the starting switch (or the start ing brush in the case where one of the motor brushes is employed as the starting switch) while such central member is surrounded by a tube or sleeve t which carries the contact bridge a and which may be caused to engage with the knob or handle by means of grooves or recesses engaging projections or pins upon the handle or by any other suite able means which while permitting of the withdrawal of the handle for operating the starting switch will yet transmit rotationof the handle to the sleeve t for the purpose of rotating the contact bridgei in a manner. to control the lighting circuit.

The tube or sleeve 6 is provided with a series of apertures or recesses u adapted to cooperate with a V-shaped or like recess 0 in the member 1', the apertures to being arranged peripherally in positions corresponding to the various angular positions which the lighting switch may be required to occupy, and in each of such recesses is a ball w which also in part projects into the recess 1). Be tween the member If and the lock m is a pin or bolt a? which when the locking deviceis in its locked position as shown in Figures 1 and 3 is caused to protriule into one of the radial recesses so that both rotary and axial movement of the switch is is prevented with the result that the switch is locked against operation.- WVhen, however, the lock is released as shown in Figure 2 a recess 2 inthe barrel of the lock registers with the locking pin or bolt 0: thus permitting the latter to be raised from engagement with the switch member by means of one or other of the balls referred to consequent upon axial or rotational movement of the switch so that in such position of the lock the. switch may be freely operated and owing to the fact that there is a plurality of recesses corresponding to the various angular positions of the lighting switch the latter may be turned to any one of such positions and then looked therein by the locking means while at the same time the starting and ignition circuits will also be locked against operation, it being understood that the contact bridge 0 actuated by the locli is so arranged in relation to the cont-acts that the ignition circuit is otf when the locking device is in its locked position. v

A. suitable stop 1 may be provided in con junction with the lock for limiting the rotational movement of the same in order to ensure the correct positioning of the ignition contacts, and if necessary or desirable a similar stop or stops may be provided in conjunction with the starting and lighting switch, these arrangements ensuring that the devices themselves will be arrested with the result that no pressure may be exerted upon the contacts such as might the case were these themselves to carry the stopping or arresting devices.

It will be understood that capable of general application in any case where a plurality of electric circuits are to lhe switchboard of a motor'vehicle, for example, the construction and arrangement adopted is so compact in its compass and the only parts which need to be operated are the key and the knob of the ,controlling switch so that the whole con'trivanee within its outer casing orcover may be mounted behind the dashboard 2 (Fi re 3)' leaving only the key aperture and t e switch knob the invention is I visible together, if necessary or desirable,

with a suitable indicator shown in Figure 1 for indicating the lamps controlled by the lighting switch in each-of its various angular positions.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1.- A switchboard for controlling the starting, lighting and ignition circuits on motor vehicles, comprising a switch mem ber adapted for both rotary and axial movements for controlling two of said circuits, and a locking member for locking said switch against both movements, and adapted to control the third circuit.

2. A switchboard for controllin the starting, lighting and ignition circuits on motor vehicles comprising a switch member adapted for both rotary and axial movements for controlling two of said circuits, a. locking member for locking said switch against both movements, and adapted to control the .third circuit, and a. pin operated {:3 said lock for locking said switch mem- 3. A switchboard for controlling the starting, lighting and ignition circuits on motor vehicles, comprising a rotary contact member for controlling the lighting circuit, an axially movable member for controlling the starting circuit a single operative member for actuating both circuit controlling means, and a locking member for locking the operative member against both movements and adapted to control the third circuit.

4. A switchboard for controlling the starting, lighting and ignition circuits on motor vehicles comprising a rotary contact moans? 1 for actuating both circuit controlling mean-S and a locking member adapted to control the third circuit and to lock the controlling means for the other two'circuits.

5. A switch ard for controlling ,the

starting, lighting and ignition circuits on .0118 circuit, a rotary memberoperatm s'ai contact member, an .axially mova'be member for controlling va second circuit, a single o -z erative member'for controllingfboth rotary a and axially movable members and a locking adapted to lock both rotary-end axiall for controllin member for controlling, the third circuit and movable members against movement. :26,- A switch-board for controlling the starting, li hting andfignition circuits on tnotorfvehic es comprising a rotary member one circuit, an axlallymcv able member or controlling thesecond circuit,.a single operative member. for actuat- Ting both rotary'and axially movable memhem, a locking member for controllmg.. the;

, third circuit and a pinactuated by said lockingmember for'locking both rotary and i3."

- all I starting, lighting and ignition circuits on motor vehicle's comprising a rotary contact movable members against movement. switchboard. for controlling the gu'lar spaced openings,,a"1ocking motor vehicles comprlsm in combination a Yrotary contact member or controllln member controlling" one circuit, a rotary member having angularlywspaced openings therein fol-actuating said rotary member, van axially fmovable member forcontrolling a second circuit having a peripheral oove members, a ball located in each of said an-'. member therein, a single operative member" 01 ac:

,tuating both rotary and axially movable adapted to control the third circuit'and a pin actuated by said. locking member and cooperating w th said openings, and said balls for lockingboth'rotary and axially movable members against movement.

v 8. Aiswitchboard for a controlling thestarting, lighting and ignition OllOllltS on motor vehicles; comprisin an axially movable member for controlling o'ne circuiti a sleeve member \for' actuating said axia 1y movable member and having a peripheral groove'therein, "a second sleeve member surrounding said sleevemember, a rota v contact member connected with said-secon sleeve member, a single device for axially moving the first sleeve member and for ro- ALB RT nnmtrmnennr j 

